Atopic Eruption Of Pregnancy - Causes, Symptoms & Treatments You Should Be Aware Of

From nausea and uneasiness to heartburn and insomnia, pregnancy comes with a number of signs and symptoms, most of them a bit tricky to deal with. Atopic eruption is one such common concern experienced by women during their pregnancy period.

Let’s take a closer look at what it really is, its causes and symptoms, and some possible ways to deal with it.

What Is Atopic Eruption?

Atopic eruption of pregnancy, often shortened as AEP, is a group of conditions that may affect pregnant women. Most of these conditions revolve around the skin, and can cause the development of red patches and itchy bumps all over the body. Infact, this condition is also found to be prevalent in women who have never been affected by eczema or other skin conditions prior to their pregnancy.

In most cases, atopic eruption does not pose any health risks to the developing baby. (1)

Causes Of Atopic Eruption Of Pregnancy:

The exact cause of atopic eruption is not very well understood, however, it has been found that this condition tends to run in families, and can be hereditary which affects an individual. Atopic dermatitis in pregnancy, in general, has women affected with overactive immune system which causes redness and inflammation of the skin, which may possibly be due to changes in the immune system function during pregnancy.

Signs And Symptoms Of Atopic Dermatitis During Pregnancy:

Atopic eruption of pregnancy is usually noted in the early stages of pregnancy, and can lead to the formation of rough red patches on different regions of the skin, particularly the creases of the elbows, the face, the neck and the back of the knees.

Some bumps may also show up on widespread regions such as the arms, legs and the abdomen. A typically characteristic of AEP is that it is usually found on a relatively dry skin. Itchiness may be present, which may induce scratching, leading to development of scratch marks and exudation of the skin. (3)

Treatment Options:

The best way to tackle AEP is to advise women about avoiding irritants prior to the pregnancy period. Ideally, they must also be advised to make use of topical creams and emollients to deal with the eczema. These creams (which can be obtained by a physician’s advice) can be applied several times a day to tackle skin dryness.

The dermatologist may also suggest the use of mild corticosteroids to deal with the condition depending upon its severity. Oral anti-histamines may be prescribed to control itching, which sometimes interferes interfere with pregnancy. (4)

In addition, if the rashes become weepy and are infected by bacteria, may be treated with the help of oral antibiotics. (5)

It has been found that eczema and other signs and symptoms of AEP tend to improve after the baby is born. However, women who are once affected by this condition may have a higher risk of being affected in the future as well. (7)

We hope this article helped you understand about atopic eruption of pregnancy. Were you too affected by it? Let us know your experiences in the comments box below.